OPERATION STACK has come into force due to weather chaos brought by Storm Gareth.

Part of the M20 in Kent has been closed as a seven-mile tailback of lorries formed after strong winds and heavy rain disrupted cross-Channel ferry crossings. Operation Stack queues lorries waiting for ferries and Eurotunnel crossings. It is the first time the traffic management measure has been used in four years.

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She added: “Storm Gareth has brought strong winds but it is clearing eastwards, although it has left some blustery conditions.

"The strongest winds have cleared but it is still very windy across parts of the UK, but mainly the higher ground."

The storm has brought widespread travel disruption across the country.

A tree falling on to overhead wires between Irvine and Kilwinning overnight caused disruption to trains between Glasgow and Ayr, but Scotrail confirmed on Wednesday afternoon that the lines had been repaired.

Trains between Durham and Newcastle were also halted after overhead electric wires were damaged, impacting LNER, CrossCountry, Northern and Transpennine Express services, but reopened later on Wednesday morning.

Some Virgin Trains services between Manchester Piccadilly and London Euston and some between Glasgow Central and Preston were cancelled.

There were also reports of trees blocking roads and some exposed routes in north-east England being closed to high-sided vehicles.